Culture vultures flock to Kentish Town
Kentish Town is the stylish suburb where can you shop with Jon Snow, bump into Alan Bennett or nip to the newsagent with Alan Rusbridger. Historic and lively Kentish Town is catching cool neighbour Camden as the most desirable postcode, or ‘Poco’, in swinging London.Bucking the national trend, house prices are rising as savvy buyers follow the Boho pioneers to find the next big residential location in London.
Annies Bar on Kentish Town Road was one of the first establishments to see the gentrification coming – owner Maria Connolly transformed it from a sports bar into a stylish cocktail lounge almost a year ago.
“We could see things were starting to change in the neighbourhood,” says Maria, who ran the bar in its former incarnation – Auntie Annie’s Porter House.
“Kentish Town has always been a fantastic place with a great sense of community and we always loved our customers. But we started to notice a change – people were asking for fine wines and cocktails rather than pints.
“With people like Radio 1’s Scott Mills and Love Actually star Bill Nighy living in the neighbourhood, it had to start catching up.”
One year on and business at Annies is booming - as is the rest of Kentish Town. The London Paper described the area as a groovy but gritty enclave that is getting more expensive for property every day.
With fabulous transport links on both underground and overland train services, buyers priced out of neighbouring Camden have started flocking to Kentish Town. People are also attracted by the quirky independent shops and cafes, and bars like Annies.
“We are so proud to be part of Kentish Town’s renaissance,” says Connolly, “It’s just a fantastic part of London in which to live.”
Annies Bar is at 180 Kentish Town Road and is open from 12pm to 11.30pm Sunday to Thursday, and until midnight Friday and Saturday. Two for one cocktails are available all night Sunday to Tuesday, and from 5pm to 8pm Wednesday to Saturday.
To find out more log on to the website at annies-bar.com.